Christmas Tree Recycling in Marin

December 26, 2014

As December draws to a close and the New Year begins, the time comes bid farewell to your Christmas tree. It's a sad but inevitable fact of life that your tree has to go at some point, unless you have an artificial Christmas tree, in which case you can probably stop reading right here.

Fortunately, your local disposal agency is usually more than happy to take your dried out old Noble Fir off your hands and do the green thing with the tree by recycling it. If for some reason you can't leave your tree out by the curb with your yard waste, you can drop it off at a number of different locations, including most fire houses, throughout Marin County.

Keep in mind that you need to remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, and plastic tree bags from the tree before you put it out for pick up. (Don't forget to remove metal or plastic stands, too.)

Here's a rundown of Christmas tree disposal details for communities in Marin:

For Larkspur, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Las Gallinas Valley, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Fairfax, and Ross Valley (Sleepy Hollow and Oak Manor): Trees will be collected at the curb on your regular yard waste pickup day during the month of January. One pickup per residence. If trees are greater than 6 feet in length, please cut them in half. Remove all metal stands, plastic tree bags, and ornaments. Flocked trees will not be accepted.

Marin Sanitary customers may drop off up to two Christmas trees during the month of January at the Marin Resource Recovery Center at 565 Jacoby Street in San Rafael. Drop-off is free, but a fee will be charged for flocked trees.

For Almonte, Alto, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Homestead Valley, Strawberry, and Tiburon: Place trees along curb on any regular green can collection day, starting after Christmas Day. Trees over 5 feet tall must be cut in five-foot lengths for easier handling. Flocked trees are OK. Trees put out by garbage cans will not be picked up.

From January 5–9 customers may place whole trees at the curb the night before their regular collection day. Additionally, trees may be cut to fit inside your yard waste container for collection on your regular service day. Remove all lights, tinsel, ornaments and stands. Flocked trees will not be collected.

You can also have your tree recycled as part of the San Marin High School Safe Grad Fundraiser. Tree pickup is for a suggested donation of $10 ($25 for a flocked tree) and can be scheduled by calling (415) 899-9223 or emailing SMTreeRecycle@gmail.com. You can also drop off your tree for a suggested $5 donation ($15 for a flocked tree) at the San Marin High School parking lot, 15 San Marin Drive, from 9 am to 4 pm on December 27–28 and January 3–4 and 10–11.

For Bolinas, Forest Knolls, Inverness, Marshall, Muir Beach, Nicasio, Olema, Point Reyes Station, San Geronimo, Stinson Beach, West Marin and Woodacre: Cut trees to fit inside your yard waste cart for pickup on any regular service day. Flocked trees will not be collected.

West Marin residents may also drop off trees December 26 through January 16 from 8 am to 5 pm at the Point Reyes (4th and B Streets), Tomales (599 Dillon Beach Road), and Woodacre (33 Castle Rock Road) fire stations.

Cut trees into pieces no longer than two feet in length and two feet wide and place trees in your green waste cart on regular green waste collection day for free pick up. You may also place your tree curbside the week of January 5.